Wordorigins.org

selenium

Dave Wilton, Saturday, September 19, 2009

Selenium, element 34, was discovered and named by Swedish chemist Jöns Jakob Berzelius in 1817. He formed the name from the Greek word σελήνη (selene, meaning moon) because the element had chemical properties similar to tellurium, which is named for the earth. A translation of Berzelius’s work in which he explains his choice appears in the 1818 Annals of Philosophy:

The analogy of tellurium has induced me to give it the name of selenium.1

Do you think that Ring Around The Rosie makes reference to the Black Death? Or that the whole nine yards refers to WWII machinegun ammo belts? Or that Eskimos have 500 words for snow? If so, you need the Word Myths book. Find out more.